The Moral and Scientific Implications of Playing God

PORTLAND, Ore. — Future generations could be stripped of mutations like hereditary blindness or maternal diabetes, after a breakthrough study at Oregon Health & Science University.

But the new technique is also one short step from genetic design of future generations, said Marcy Darnovksy of the California-based Center for Genetics and Society. “These powerful new technologies have a whole bunch of wonderful and appropriate uses — and a number of ways they can be misused.”